Football
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Neymar 'will spend the rest of his life at Barcelona' - Roberto Fernandez

Neymar will remain at Barcelona for life, according to the club's technical director Roberto Fernandez.

Neymar, 23, underlined his status as one of the best players in his team last season when he scored 43 goals in all competitions as Barcelona won the Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League.

He is tied to the European champions until June 2018 but was linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer -- and later confirmed to ESPN Brasil that he had contact with the English club -- while agent Wagner Ribeiro recently suggested he could end his career at Real Madrid. 

However, Barca have said they intend to hand the Brazil international with a new and improved deal that would reportedly make the player the second highest paid at the club after Lionel Messi.

Marca has now quoted Fernandez as saying: "We are currently working on Neymar's contract extension and I don't think there will be any type of problem.

"I have no doubt in my mind that Neymar will spend the rest of his life at Barcelona."

Neymar, who joined Barca from Santos in 2013, has been even more important this season with Messi having been sidelined for a couple of months because of a knee injury.

Barcelona know they must be patient and not bring Messi back before he has fully recovered.

"We cannot rush with Messi," Fernandez said. "I'm certain that the predicted eight weeks of recovery will be met. I don't believe one should ever force the recovery of a player."

Barca have been marred by injuries, with Brazilian midfielder Rafinha ruled out for six months with knee ligament damage and captain Andres Iniesta sidelined with a hamstring problem.

"Injuries appear and we need to face them," Fernandez said. "It's part of the game. We could have had a better preseason and unlike this summer, I don't think next year we will go on a tour."

To complicate matters for Barca, they cannot field their two summer signings -- former Sevilla right-back Aleix Vidal and ex-Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan -- until January, when a transfer ban imposed on the club by FIFA expires.

The punishment was handed down after the club breached rules regarding the signings of underage players.

Fernandez has not ruled out making further reinforcements in the winter transfer market.

"We have time to think what we want and if we need someone, which is the most important thing," he said. "We are looking because it's our duty to do so. The winter transfer market is never easy."

Spanish forward Nolito is one possibility.

The Celta Vigo forward, who has scored five goals and set up three more in seven league starts this season, has been linked to Barcelona since the summer. 

"Nolito is a good player and he is proving that every Sunday," Fernandez said.

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